APT College of Fellows Keynote

preceded by APT-PTN Partner Reception

Sunday night activities are included with your Conference registration. Greet old friends and make new acquaintances at the APT-PTN Partner Reception, then stay for a little pomp and circumstance. This year's class of APT Fellows will be installed prior to the keynote address. Dress code is business casual.

The College of Fellows established a lecture series in 1999 that brings internationally known preservationists to APT’s annual Conference. This year, the College considered over 20 international experts for this honor, and Dr. Gerard Lynch was the overwhelming choice to deliver the COF Keynote.

Dr. Lynch of Milton Keynes, Buckinghampshire, England, is an internationally acclaimed and highly respected historic brickwork consultant, master bricklayer, educator and author. He followed a traditional apprenticeship as a bricklayer and, over the years through his natural ability within his craft, gained many awards, including the Silver and Gold Trowels from the Brick Development Association and is a Licentiate of the City and Guilds of London Institute (LCG). He is a former Head lecturer of Trowel Trades at Bedford College, pioneering a revival of gauged brickwork, in which he is considered the world's leading authority, and other almost forgotten traditional craft skills; and is affectionately known by the historic term, "The Red Mason." He returned to contracting and set up a private consultancy practice in 1992.

Dr. Lynch is the author of Gauged Brickwork A Technical Handbook (Gower, 1990, revised 2006, Donhead Publishing), Brickwork: History: Technology and Practice (volumes 1 and 2, Donhead Publishing, 1994) and The History of Gauged Brickwork: Conservation, Repair and Modern Applications (Elsevier Limited 2007). A regular, and highly regarded, course leader at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Sussex, he lectures and holds Master Classes on several aspects of historical brickwork and lectures at neighbouring West Dean College. He holds the title of "Kentucky Colonel," the Commonwealth's highest honour, awarded for his significant contribution to craft education and training; he was awarded the IPTW "Askins Achievement Award" in 2007 and currently serves as a Director on the board of PTN.